Verdant Virginia

By Jennifer Garrett

Virginia has meeting space that is distinctly Southern (old mansions) to ultra-modern (eco-friendly convention centers). Steeped in history and proud to show it off, the state provides rich cultural attractions, entertainment and spectacular scenery from the Blue Ridge Mountains to the Atlantic shore.

The locally made and homegrown movements have taken hold in this region, reflecting the character and specialties of each area, and offering sampling tours and other opportunities for your attendees. Add some extra flavor to your meetings with our quick roundup of the venues, special attractions and values in these destinations.

VIRGINIA

Charlottesville

With roots that go back to 1745, Albemarle County is packed with history and culture, all set against the beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains. From Monticello, which comprises the house, gardens and plantation of Thomas Jefferson, to Ash Lawn-Highland and Montpelier, the historic homes of James Monroe and James Madison respectively, both of which host events and meetings, visitors can quickly find themselves surrounded by historical significance. Go a different route for your event at The 201, a versatile 10,000-sq.-ft. facility downtown that can accommodate from 10 to 350. The Boar’s Head estate is a beautiful resort that offers 22,000 square feet of meeting space and features a new 9,000-sq.-ft. pavilion and 12 fully equipped function rooms. Once outside the meeting room there are championship golf courses, lakes and rivers for tubing, sailing and kayaking, and plenty of gorgeous scenery, which can be best captured in a hot air balloon.

Newport News

No one knows for sure where Newport News received its unusual moniker. But many believe the coastal city was named after Christopher Newport, the commander of Susan Constant, the flagship of the English fleet that landed on Jamestown Island in 1607, and who often brought good news of supplies coming to the settlement. So it is only fitting that one of the most popular attractions — and meeting facilities — in the area is the Mariners’ Museum. The museum features almost 15,000 square feet of meeting space between its large halls, galleries and classrooms, all amongst its informational exhibits and the newly opened, $30-million addition of the Civil War attraction, the USS Monitor Center. The Virginia Living Museum takes guests from space to sea with its newly re-opened planetarium and more than 250 living species native to the area. Meet in a classroom or conference room during the day and then host a reception for as many as 500 in the museum at night or outside in the Conservation Garden, which also features an amphitheater.

Alexandria

Alexandria can serve as your gateway to Washington, D.C., or the city on the National Register of Historic Places can be a destination in itself. Boat tours leaving the city marina range from 240 people aboard the Dandy Restaurant Cruise to the intimate Potomac Belle yacht or party boats of the Potomac River Company. You don’t have to go in to D.C. to experience history either. Take a glance into George Washington’s life at his home, Mount Vernon Estate and Gardens, where events can be hosted indoors or out by the distillery and gristmill. Host an event in the very venue that Washington and many other former presidents and politicians graced, Gadsby’s Tavern Museum. Today the 18th century tavern and hotel features a museum that takes you back to the era and meeting space that includes an assembly room and ballroom that can accommodate up to 160 people. The Lyceum, Alexandria’s History Museum tells the city’s history through archeological finds, photos and artifacts, as well as providing meeting space in the Lecture Hall.

Richmond

History and culture intermingle in this city filled with Southern charm. Historical landmarks and museums covering the Revolutionary and Civil wars fill the area from St. John’s Church — the site of Patrick Henry’s famous “Give me liberty or give me death” speech — to the American Civil War Center at Historic Tredegar, which has the largest collection of Confederate artifacts in the world. Stately homes fill the historic neighborhoods and line streets; Monument Avenue is a wide lane with monuments of prominent Americans from Robert E. Lee to Arthur Ashe down the middle and gorgeous trees creating a canopy overhead. In addition to the 700,000-sq.-ft. Greater Richmond Convention Center, meeting space is available in many of the museums and sports venues including Richmond Raceway Complex and Colonial Downs. The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts remains available for events even though its galleries are closed during a 100,000-sq.-ft. expansion (expected completion May 2010). More is on the horizon for the city by the end of 2009: Richmond CenterStage, a downtown arts development that includes a multipurpose performance space and playhouse, and the new Hilton Conference Center and Spa.

Southeast Virginia

“First” and “only” are commonly heard around this region. The first permanent settlers to our country actually touched down in Virginia Beach and then headed to Jamestown. It’s home to the largest Naval station in the world (Naval Station Norfolk) and only master jet base on the East Coast (Oceana Naval Air Station). Virginia Beach was designated as the first “green destination” by the Virginia Green program with more than 90 certified hospitality businesses from restaurants to hotels and attractions in the city. The $202.5 million Virginia Beach Convention Center has more than 500,000 square feet of space, and other venues including the Virginia Aquarium and Marine Science Center and the Sandler Center for the Performing Arts can accommodate more than 1,000 people each. Surrounded by nature, Southeast Virginia boasts plenty of reasons to get out of the boardroom from relaxing on sandy beaches to exploring the Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge and First Landing State Park. Or convince your boss to host your event outdoors at one of the oceanfront parks or at the Virginia Beach Sportsplex. And nearby Colonial Williamsburg is a must-do day trip for anyone desiring to step back in time.

Roanoke

Set in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains, it is fitting that Roanoke would provide ample outdoor venues. The Historic Farmer’s Market accommodates up to 1,200 people and provides food stations, tables and a stage, or the Mill Mt. Pavilion can accommodate 60 people where it sits atop Mill Mountain at the Roanoke Star, the world’s largest man-made star and most notable attraction in Roanoke. Between two civic centers and an IACC-approved conference center there is more than 180,000 square feet of flexible meeting space. Once you are outside the meeting room, attractions ranging from a trip to the Mill Mountain Zoo or Salem Sox baseball game to the Virginia Museum of Transportation or Booker T. Washington National Monument can fill up free time. Wineries, local theater and ballet are also popular ways to experience the city.